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Const. Adrian Oliver was the son of the RCMP's officer in charge of border integrity

Police investigate an accident involving an unmarked police cruiser and a truck at the intersection of 64th Ave and 148th Street after an early morning fatal crash in Surrey on November 13, 2012.

Photograph by: Wayne Leidenfrost
, PNG

METRO VANCOUVER - The investigation into what caused Const. Adrian Oliver's RCMP cruiser to collide with a transport truck at a Surrey intersection is ongoing.

The intersection that was the scene of Tueday's fatal crash has reopened to traffic.

Cpl. Bert Paquet of the Surrey RCMP said it's too early to tell what may have caused the collision and refused to speculate whether speed was a factor.

"We just want to cover all bases before we make any kind of statement, and see what direction the investigation will go. We're looking at absolutely evidence," Paquet said.

RCMP investigators, with the assistance of the Vancouver Police Department, are still speaking to witnesses and gathering evidence, he said.

Oliver's family has arrived in Surrey, but no funeral arrangements have been released.

Deputy Commissioner Craig Callens, the officer in charge of the RCMP in B.C., said 28-year-old Oliver was a second-generation RCMP officer. His father is Chief Supt. Joseph Oliver, who serves in Ottawa as director general of border integrity in the RCMP's federal and international operations department. Oliver's twin brother is also a member of the force and based in the Lower Mainland. Oliver was not married and had no children.

"This is an extremely difficult and sad day for the RCMP, " Callens said at a press conference at the Surrey RCMP detachment.

The B.C.-born Oliver was educated in Ottawa and joined the RCMP in December, 2008. He joined the Surrey detachment in June, 2009 as his first posting. He had been "excited about his first posting as a general duty constable," Callens said.

Chief Supt. Bill Fordy, who is in charge of the Surrey RCMP, praised Oliver and said little is known about the crash so far.

"He was an outstanding police officer with a great attitude and commitment to serve others," Fordy said. "He was part of an extended RCMP family and he will be missed.

"All RCMP members and employees will be impacted by this loss and we are ensuring that proper support is available to them."

Oliver had been driving an unmarked cruiser back to the detachment at the end of his patrolling shift around 5 a.m. when the collision happened at 148 Street and 64 Avenue. Emergency crews attempted to get Oliver from the vehicle and revive him, but he died of his injuries.

An RCMP collision reconstruction team is trying to figure out the circumstances of the crash that left the cruiser crumpled and blackened in the intersection. The detailed accident scene analysis left Tuesday morning rush-hour traffic snarled. An outside force, the Vancouver Police, has been called in to supervise the investigation.

The Surrey intersection that was the scene of Tuesday's fatal crash involving a police officer has reopened to traffic.

The driver of the truck was not injured.

Public Safety Minister Vic Toews extended his condolences to the Oliver family on behalf of the federal government, and Heritage Minister James Moore tweeted that the flags on all RCMP buildings would fly at half-mast until the Oliver's funeral service is held. Funeral arrangements were pending.

B.C. Attorney-General Shirley Bond, the cabinet minister responsible for policing, also gave her condolences.

"We know the loss of any officer is a tragedy and our community is diminished today because of it," she said in a statement. "Police officers face potential dangers each day while they work to keep our communities safe, and we appreciate their dedication to duty as they serve our province."

The last Mountie to die in line of duty in Surrey was Const. John Baldwinson, who also died in a crash in October 1975.